Demystifying
Black / African-American Skincare
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Contrary to
popular believe, black skin has certain needs specific to its genetic make up.
However the basic steps in skincare, cleaning, toning, treating, moisturizing
and sun protection are still necessary.
Black or
dark skin tends to have varying pigmentation and undertones even on one
individual. Black skin has a problem with hyper-pigmentation and scaring, and
special care is needed to avoid these situations and repair already damaged
skin. It is therefore
important to know your skin type and problem areas if any.
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Sun Protection
Despite
having more melanin than white skin, people of color still need to practice sun
protection. Also people of African descent or other dark-skinned race can and
do get skin cancer. It is a common belief that the melanin in dark skin
protects it from skin cancer. The truth is, melanin
only offers some amount of protection. What is true is that with black skin,
sun damage is less obvious.
The use of sunscreen is therefore necessary. Sunscreen of SPF 15 is
recommended.
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Cleaning
Cleaning of
the skin is also important; the face should not be scrubbed too hard while
washing. Black skin is delicate and excessive cleaning and harsh handling will
result in bruising and microscopic tears. Again the color of the skin hides the
damage so the bruising is normally not noticed. Also, darker skin tones tend to
look gray if too dry, therefore over washing should be avoided. It is best not to use soap for
cleaning the face or skin since they tend to be drying. If you have oily skin a
purifying cleanser is a good choice.
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Exfoliation
while necessary, especially for those over twenty or with acne should be done
cautiously. It is recommended that African Americans use clay-based
exfoliants. Because black skin tend
to have large pores, toning is essential, to help keep the pores healthy. This
helps prevent black heads and other skin problems.
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Moisturizing
Some
dermatologists disagree that everyone needs to moisturize, especially those
with oily skin. Oily skin is
a condition that affects a large majority of persons with dark skin. If your
skin is dry however, you do need to moisturize.
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Apart from
the obvious reasons to keep your skin hydrated, black people tend to have eczema.
This skin condition, while not curable can be controlled by keeping the skin or
other affected areas well moisturized.
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For black
skin it is best to use creams instead of lotions for moisturizing as the skin
absorbs creams more effectively.
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All in all,
skin is skin, but black skin is normally abused because of the misconception
that it is tougher than lighter skin.
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Article URL:
http://www.carefair.com/skincare/Demystifying_Black_African_American_Skincare_453.html
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